Method of and apparatus for removing moisture from solid materials



M. JUNG METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MOISTURE FROI SOLID MATERIALS March 8, "1 932.

Filed July 11, 1928 Patented Mar. 8, 1932 f UNITED LISTATES PATENT: oFFIcE max tune, onnanmsran'r, GERMANY mnrnon or am) urm'rus non namov'me morsrunn mom somn' narnarnns Application filed July 1 1, 1928, Serial No. 291,806, and in Germany June 17, 1927.

My invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, removing moisture from solid materials-, and it is an object of my lnvention to provide a method and apparatus of 5) the kind described in which dynaimc and pneumatic action are combined.

My invention may be applied to thedrying of mineral and vegetable materials.

In an apparatus for performing my method 10 I may provide a centrifugal apparatus in combination with a fan which may be POSI- tively connected with the centrifugal a paratus so as to rotate at the same spec or adapted to rotate at a speed other than that I of the apparatus. In the latter case, it is also possible to rotate the centrifugal apparatus and the fan in opposite directions, and

it will be understood that any combination of speeds ofrotation and air velocity may be obtained in this manner.

It is also possible to combine the centrifugal apparatus and the fan into-a single unit by designing the chambers of the centrifugal apparatus as fan. chambers, suitable vanes 2 being provided.

In cases where it is particularly ditficult to separate the moisture from the material or in the case of a very thick liquid, the pneumatic action may be exerted by. vacuum and pressure in combination so as to increase the separating action. In an apparatus of the latter type, the im eller may be provided with a hollow sha t for supplying a gas thereto, or for connecting it with a vacuum or the apparatus is-equipped with a casing under pressure or under vacuum.

When compressed gas is employed, the inlet side of the apparatus is so designed that the gas is forced through the chambers or filters of the impeller. lVhen vacuum is employed, corresponding equipment is provided at the outlet, or outlets, for the water and the gas, if any, separated from the material. As mentioned, any combination of conpressed gas and vacuum may be prov1 e I may also provide means for exerting vibration on'the apparatus with a view to accelerate or to assist the separation. part of the apparatus,

for instance, its im- Any peller, or the complete apparatus, may be subjected to vibration.

My invention also relates to suitable designs of filters. Any type of filters, as slotted screens, fabrics, osmotic filters, and the like unay be rovided. In the case .of slotted screens, tie slots are preferably extended in the direction in which the material is flowing so as to prevent clogging.

Preferably, the filters are equipped with frames tofacilitate their insertion and exchange, so that the same apparatus may be operated with various kinds of filters. Osmoticand similar filters are preferably not only exchangeable but also adapted to be turned over so as to be used repeatedly and to be cleaned automatically.

If desired the material which has been treated in the centrifugal apparatus, may be projected into flowing gas in order to further reduce its moisture content, or to prevent deposition of condensate from moist air discharged with the material, conglomeration of the material and reabsorption of moisture,

Means as heating jackets or the like may be provided in connection With the apparatus, and the apparatus may also be combined with further drying means.

The chambers in which the material and the mixture of liquid and gas which has been separated from the material, are flowing, are separated by an aircushion. The air required for the cushion is admitted through openings-in the casing of the apparatus and is admitted to either chamber through an adjustable annular slot.

My method and apparatus may also be used for the separation of dust from gases, for separating gases and gas mixtures, and for removing moisture from gases.

In the drawings afiixed to this specification and forming part thereof, apparatus in which my method may be performed, are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of a centrifugal apparatus in which the impeller and the fan are combined into a single unit,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line IIII in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration, on a lar or scale, of a combined fan and impeller,

ig. 4 is an axial section of an apparatus in which as under pressure and suction may be applied.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a hopper forsupplying material to the apparatus, B is the casing of the apparatus having an outlet C for the air or gas which have been moved through the apparatus or through the material to be treated, or are contained in the material, an outlet D for the separated water, and an outlet E for the treated material, F is the shaft of the fan and impeller unit in the casing B, d is shoes on the shaft F, b is the impeller or centrifugal part of the. apparatus, 0 is its fan part, and a is a partition between the two parts. As mentioned, the parts may be separated and each provided with driving mechanism of its own, so that each part may oper-' ate at different speed, and the parts may r0- tate in opposite directions.

Referring now to Fig.3, this shows diagrammatically a chamber of the apparatus,

with a fan of its own. The material to be treated flows in a thin layer and in a steady stream from the axis of the impeller toward its perimeter along the partition or filter e, as indicated by the radial arrow. In this manner a layer or jet is ejected continuously at the perimeter of the impeller. As lndicated by the arrows crossing the radial arrow, the air permeates the comparatively thin layer substantially at right angles to the direction in which the material flows. Vanes g are arranged in front of the filter r. The impeller rotates in thedirection of thearrow, and are vanes at the rear of the filter. The vanes g serve for suitably guiding the material and the air, as indicated by. the arrows. The air after flowing through the filter e is separated into a plurality of layers by the vanes f in order to avoid whirling. v

Referring now to Fig. 4, 2' is a vertical hollow shaft to which compressed gas is supplied through a pipe G and a stuffing box H. Suitable radial passages connect the chambers h of the impeller a withthe hollow shaft 6 and gas chambers, not shown, may be provided in connection with the chambers h in order to facilitate the distribution of the gas. Nozzles, not shown, may be provided for supplying the gas to the several chambers.

If it is desired to operate the apparatus under a vacuum, suction instead of pressure is applied to the pipe G and the flow is now reversed.

If it is desired that the impeller a should rotate in gas under pressure, a gas chamber is is formed above the impeller by a suitable casing, and gas under pressure is supplied to the chamber, or chambers, in through a pipe I. If, on the other hand, it is desired that the impeller should rotate in a vacuum it is f j ustable.

material. into flowing air, as mentioned above. If this is desired, the impeller is provided with a cowl 'n in which an air cushion n is rotating, the air in the cushion being renewed by discharge openings 1' in thebarrelm of the impeller. The air and the material are discharged across the edge 'v of the cowl n. The .water and the air from the impeller are discharged through a common outlet ;0 in which an inclined plate a is provided for the separation of the material and the mixture of airand-water. The upper end of the plate or conical partition .9 is packed at thebarrel m of the impeller by an annular cavity into which air is continuously forced through the rotation of the impeller, which air is then discharged into the chamber p and into a chamber q below the partition sas follows: 2? is an annular section having a flute u which, with the exception 9f 9. small air discharge gap, is covered by rings 7) and w. so thatannular cavities are formed between the rings to, o, and the barrel m. The barrel m and the section t are perforated at in so that the fluteu is connected with the inside of the barrel. When the barrel rotates, air is forced into the flute at through the holes a:, and is discharged into the chambers p and 9 through narrow ga 5 past the rings "0 and w. The gaps may e regulated by making the rings '0 and w ad- In this manner a very simple,

practically frictionless, permanent and" very efl'ective acking is obtained for separating the chamhers p and g.

Various changes may be made in the details disclosed in the foregoing specification without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim p 1. A centrifugal apparatus for removin moisture from continuously flowin material, comprisin means for'subdividing the material into thin layers, and vanes for directing a drying agent through said matesoli rial transversely to the direction in which said material flows. v

2. A centrifugal apparatus for removing moisture from continuously flowing solid material, comprising means forsubdividing the material into thin layers, and vanes for directing a gaseous drying agent through said material transversely to the direction in which said material flows.

3. A centrifugal apparatus for removing moisture from continuously flowing solid material comprising an impeller with a substantially radial for'aminated partition,

means at the centre of said impeller for admittingthe material to he treated to one side of said partition, means for discharging the material at the perimeter of said impeller, and vanes for directing a drying agent transversel through said partition.

4. X centrifugal apparatus for removing moisture from continuously flowing solid material, comprising {35 a rotary impeller, means on said impeller for subdividing the material into thin layers comprising a filter extending in the radial direction of said impeller, and vanes for directing a drying agent through said material transversely to said radial direction,

5. A centrifugal apparatus for removing moisture from continuously flowing solid material, comprising a rotary impeller, means on said impeller for subdividing the material into thin layers comprising a filter extending in the radial direction of said impeller, a set of vanes for supplying air to said filter and arranged at one side of and angularly related to said filter, and a second set of vanes for receiving and subdividing the issuing mixture of agent and liquid and arranged at the opposite side of and angularly related to said filter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MAX J UNG. 

